French Friday: Lillet Champagne Cocktail
“I’d like to live in the sort of house,” Sebastian told me last week, “where we always have a bottle of Lillet in the fridge.” Well, you don’t have to tell me twice! As soon as the weather warms––even a smidge––I want a little faceted glass of it, on the rocks, with a twist of orange. But what’s better than plain Lillet? Lillet and champagne! Holy heavens, people.
Thrifty tip: as I was buying the bottle at the liquor store last night, the clerk recommended Dolin Blanc, which he said he likes even better and costs less. “Plus,” I pointed out, “the label’s just as pretty.” He ignored this superficial comment and continued ringing me up, though clearly you and I know that packaging counts for something.
What I like about this combination is how the effervescence of the champagne lightens the almost syrupy sweetness of the Lillet, making it a little more refreshing (and even more dangerously easy-to-drink). You could also use club soda in place of the sparkling wine and sub the orange twist for a squeeze of lime, but that’s not in quite the same spirit of luxury, is it?
Inspired by a recipe of decadence topped with decadence, what unadulterated pleasures are you enjoying this weekend?
Lillet Champagne Cocktail
from Gourmet 1979 (!)
In a chilled Champagne glass combine 1/2 cup Lillet with 3 ice cubes, fill the glass with chilled Champagne, and garnish the drink with a twist of orange peel. Makes 1 drink.
La Chapstick Fanatique: champagne is my favorite thing to drink. i am also looking for new recipes with champagne. i am definitely going to try this!
http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com1 year ago
Betsy: Oh my, how divine!1 year ago
Cadi: One of my very favorite quotes about one of my very favorite libations: “I only drink Champagne when I’m happy, and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.” – Lily Bollinger
This cocktail you have sounds heavenly, and I completely agree with Sebastian on the Lillet stocked home. I also believe that pretty packaging counts for a lot.
Weekend will be spent indulging in corned beef hash with poached eggs and snuggling up in front of the fire – it’s raining cats and dogs out here! It will also include your timely bubbles-spiked-Lillet in our best champagne glasses, maybe with some homemade potstickers, and dreaming of warmer days.
Happy Weekend Sarah!1 year ago
Another winner of a drink made with champagne: a French 75!
Cadi, That quote is hilarious, and your weekend sounds positively luxurious!1 year ago
tiffany | live happy: Champagne makes everything better!
Love the lillet cocktail, but you’re right, it’s dangerously delicious! Thanks for the reminder!1 year ago
Julie: That’s the kind of Friday afternoon math equation I can get behind!
Did you see the DIY handbook in the NYTimes yesterday? It has a recipe to make your own Lillet-type of concoction! Not sure it’s worth the trouble, but an interesting idea!1 year ago
Fascinating! No, I didn’t see that, but am so curious!1 year ago
Oooh, the DIY handbook is so fun! Here’s the recipe for homemade Lillet-like liquor, for anyone who’s interested:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/dining/16diy-recipes.html#view=vin_d_orange1 year ago
Katie: Ooh, how fun! Very springy. (It’s 65 here and totally gorgeous. Hallelujah.)
This weekend I’m enjoying dark French drinking chocolate, a pretty new top, and sleeping in tomorrow. Can. Not. Wait.1 year ago
Chez Loulou: Love Lillet! But never thought of mixing it with Champagne before. Sounds like a sublime combination.1 year ago
Sasha: I have to admit, you had me taking a quick walk around my hood this evening looking for Domin Blanc, but with no success! Then I called up several other stores, and even some in Manhattan and they don’t carry it either. Would you be willing to share this fabulous wine store that stock it? I’m dying to try it now!1 year ago
Sasha: Think I finally found a spot in Manhattan that carries it but if you have any rec’s for good wine/spirit stores, I’m all ears!1 year ago
Aline Silva: Your site is so beautiful! congrats!1 year ago
Courtney: Two beverages I always have in the house yet I’ve never thought to mix them. Sounds lovely!
I’m definitely going to try the DIY liquor, by the time it’s done sitting it will make a sweet little summertime hostess gift. Thanks for the link!1 year ago
heather: oh! just now, as my husband has dozed off, snoring, in the other room, and i have a secret, semi-guilty moment alone with the computer, i thought, “i’ll just pop in to see what’s new on ‘pink of perfection’! then i’ll go to bed! swears!”
IMAGINE my surprise and delight to see gruet champagne (i know, I KNOW, not made in france, yadda yadda yadda…) right on top of your blog!
gruet is made in albuquerque–like my husband! it’s the only beverage we had at our wedding! (well, we ALSO had a lovely, crisp (local) apple cider (we got married in early november), but the friends who volunteered to see to the beverages forgot about the cider, and all anyone got was the gruet. we had cider for weeks, after.) yay, DIY!
anyway, gruet is delish, and wildly affordable, and hooray for everything! i can’t wait to p/u a bottle of lillet at the boozy store. then drink it. then soak off the label and make something pretty. yay!1 year ago
Alison: The label on the other one IS just as pretty! The clerk may not have had the social capacity to respond to your comment at the time, but my bet is that the next time a pretty girl comes in looking for Lillet, he’ll say ‘try this one, it’s just as good and the label is just as pretty’ and she’ll be sold in an instant!
1 year ago
Pink Frenchie: Well that looks just bubbly and divine!
I do adore the packaging on the Lillet bottle—it would really jazz up my little bar and be nice companion for my Campari and Cointreau and Cassis. Thanks for the yummy idea!
Salut!1 year ago
Karen: I will definitely give this a try!1 year ago
Katy: I’ve long been a fan of Lillet, but usually drink it with club soda. Champagne, however, could make for an extra little cocktail-hour treat!1 year ago
Kanesha: I’m super sad, yet elated, that I’m just seeing this post today. Just sent hubby out for prosecco to toast spring break and now I have to quickly text him to grab some Lillet as well. Yay!
Sarah-
French 75 and Kir Royale are my favorite cocktails with the bubbly. For my birthday, my friend broke out the St. Germain to make French 77 (add the St. Germain instead of gin). HEAVEN!1 year ago
tori: a french 75 is my absolute FAVORITE cocktail. it makes me think of zelda & f. scott fitzgerald every time. i gotta try this one!1 year ago
Sasha–Just FYI, the place that carries Dolin Blanc is Slope Cellars.1 year ago
Emily: Any suggestions for a good dessert pairing with this delightful sounding cocktail? I’m whipping up a little anniversary dinner tomorrow night for my bf and would love to pair Lillet and champagne with a nice light springy dessert.1 year ago
Happy anniversary! How about a lemon tart or tartlets? Or strawberries romanoff?1 year ago
Emily: Strawberries Romanoff sounds fantastic and not too challenging. Thanks for the suggestion!1 year ago
Rebecca: Yes, please!1 year ago
Becky: What is Lillet? I’m going to try this stat!1 year ago
I think it’s correct to say that Lillet is an aperitif wine, technically a vermouth. According to Wikipedia, it’s a “blend of 85% Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueurs made from a variety of sweet and bitter oranges and grapefruit peels.” It has a lovely sweet taste taste and is one of the loveliest harbingers, in my book, of warm weather. Bottoms up!1 year ago
Planet MarTay: Looking very forward to trying this; especially the champagne. The drunker I get, the better my food tastes. I’m not a skilled cook, is what I’m saying. Thanks for posting such delicious recipes for me to try!1 year ago